Secondary drain pan

Abstract

A secondary emergency condensate drain pan for an HVAC equipment and drains into the secondary pan. The secondary pan is positioned under the entire air handler to catch any water that gets outside the pan and cabinet of the HVAC unit and drains this water out of the structure utilizing standard draining practices. The drain pan is made of molded plastic that is sloped from the four corners inward to the center and down the middle to a threaded hole which its bottom is below the bottom panel, allowing no water to pool in front of the connection. There are a plurality of risers molded in the base and which protrude upward around the four corners to allow the air handler to set in a level manner. The height of the cones allows for duct connections to be made effectively to the air handler. The cones have hollow centers to allow pans to be stacked upon one another. The pan is designed such that the under side has supported ribs to ensure structural integrity. Also the height allows enough pitch for a secondary line to exit the structure.

1 . A secondary drain pan comprising:
 at least one sloped panel for receiving water;   a plurality of side walls coupled to said at least one sloped panel;   at least one drain formed in at least one of said sloped panel; and   at least one base support for elevating said at least one sloped panel above a ground surface.   
   
   
       2 . The pan as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one base support is formed as at least one extending spacer for spacing said sloped panel above a ground surface. 
   
   
       3 . The pan as in  claim 2 , wherein said base support is formed as at least one extending rib extending out from said at least one panel. 
   
   
       4 . The pan as in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one reinforcing rib extending out from said at least one sloped panel. 
   
   
       5 . The pan as in  claim 4 , wherein said at least one reinforcing rib is coupled to said base support. 
   
   
       6 . The pan as in  claim 1 , wherein said base support further comprises at least one solid block. 
   
   
       7 . The pan as in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one riser. 
   
   
       8 . The pan as in  claim 7 , wherein said at least one riser is in the form of a frusto-conical spacer element extending out from said at least one sloped panel. 
   
   
       9 . The pan as in  claim 7 , wherein said riser has a hollow section is formed as a hollow spacer element, and such that a plurality of pans can be stacked one on top of the other wherein a riser from a bottom pan can be inserted into said hollow section of said riser. 
   
   
       10 . The pan as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sloped panel comprises at least two sloped panels. 
   
   
       11 . The pan as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sloped panel comprises at least three sloped panels wherein a first sloped panel extends from a back side wall and slopes down towards said at least one drain, and said second sloped panel extends from a side wall to a region intersecting said first sloped panel, and said third sloped panel extends from a side wall opposite said second sloped panel towards a region intersection said first sloped panel. 
   
   
       12 . The pan as in  claim 1 , wherein said drain further comprises at least one channel that is formed in said at least one sloped panel, wherein said channel is for allowing water to drain from said at least one sloped panel in said pan. 
   
   
       13 . The pan as in  claim 12 , wherein said at least one drain further comprises at least one threaded connection for allowing a threaded pipe to connect thereto. 
   
   
       14 . The pan as in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one connection element disposed in said base support for allowing additional elements to be coupled thereto. 
   
   
       15 . The pan as in  claim 14 , wherein said connection element is in the form of a threaded connection for allowing a threaded element to be coupled thereto. 
   
   
       16 . The pan as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one drain is positioned at a lowest elevational section of said at least one panel to receive water flow along the panel. 
   
   
       17 . The pan as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sloped panel and said side walls are adapted so as to extend beyond a pan positioned above said pan but below a HVAC unit. 
   
   
       18 . A secondary drain pan comprising:
 at least one sloped panel for receiving water;   a plurality of side walls coupled to said at least one sloped panel;   at least one drain formed in at least one of said sloped panel; and   at least one riser extending up from said sloped panel for supporting elements above said at least one sloped panel.   
   
   
       19 . The pan as in  claim 18 , wherein said at least one sloped panel comprises at least three sloped panels wherein a first sloped panel extends from a back side wall and slopes down towards said at least one drain, and said second sloped panel extends from a side wall to a region intersecting said first sloped panel, and said third sloped panel extends from a side wall opposite said second sloped panel towards a region intersection said first sloped panel.